Justinian saw himself as sacred as he said on the 6th November 529 “For what is greater or more sacred than the Imperial Majesty.”
He actually wanted to come to the aspect of himself as the only
correct interpretation of the law and its ultimate center and concluded with others “We hold that every interpretation of the laws by the Emperor, whether in answer to requests made to him, or whether given in judgment, or in any other way whatsoever, shall be considered valid, and free from all ambiguity; for if, by the present enactment, the Emperor alone can make laws, it should also be the province of the Imperial Dignity alone to interpret them”.
On the 18th of 530, Justinian wrote that the ultimate power of the Romans is not the army but God Almighty.
About his Code Justinian said on completion of it “We have given thanks to Almighty God who has offered us the opportunity to fortunately carry on war, as well as to enjoy an honorable peace, and to formulate a most excellent system of laws, not only for the use of the present age but for that of those which shall come hereafter,and with pious mind, We have offered this work for the benefit of man.”
This Code was intended by Justinian to unify his whole empire ecumenically and ecclesiastically under the Catholic Church with the Papacy as primary authority.
He saw himself as the great unifier or religious civilization architect. His relation with the papacy and the papacy with him is well illustrated in the letter of Justinian to Pope Johannes and vice versa.
The Code is actually a law with discriminating biting teeth.
It provided a definition for church in a monotone only.
Any other color was not accepted and condemned, and in fact, discriminated against and even persecuted or killed.
Justinian created the glove that was to become the backbone of the Middle Ages Catholic Churches Holy Roman Empire and the persecutions that happened during this period can all be tract back to this legal system that Justinian installed throughout his empire.
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